Jul. 10, 2013

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Wrestling’s bid to win back its spot in the 2020 Olympics and beyond has gained support around mixed martial arts.

Perhaps no single effort to stand behind the cause, though, has come with a more measurable commitment than Mark Munoz.

The former NCAA wrestling champion at Oklahoma State offered up the key sponsorship positions on his shirt, hat and banner Saturday to showcase the “Save Olympic Wrestling” message during his televised Ultimate Fighting Championship matchup.

The International Olympic Committee’s executive group cast a stunning vote in February to strip wrestling of its guaranteed status, beginning with 2020.

Wrestling survived an initial vote in May that determined three sports group finalists for the 2020 and ’20 Games. Squash and baseball-softball will compete against wrestling for one slot in those two Olympics in a full-IOC vote Sept. 8 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Munoz, who improved to 13-3 with the UFC win, is positioned within another victory of a possible title shot in the 185-pound division.

Lessons learned because of wrestling, Munoz said, made his current situation a reality.

A knockout loss last summer to new champion Chris Weidman and injuries sent Munoz into a bout with depression that led to him backing out of a fight and developing a food addiction. Munoz grew to 261 pounds.

“I spiraled into depression and ate like the fat guy in the ‘Austin Powers’ movie,” said Munoz, 35. “My back was against the wall. I had to conquer depression, doubt, injury and my battle with food.

“Wrestling taught me a lot of life lessons and gave me hope to come back. If you take it out of the (Olympic) games, it’s going to take away a lot of hope. So I’m doing all I can to keep the sport alive.”

“At first glance, I was astonished,” Couture said. “I couldn’t believe they were actually considering removing one of the original sports from the ancient (Olympic) games. It didn’t make any sense to me.

“After learning more, though, and getting involved, it could be the best thing to ever happen.”

Couture, a former wrestling all-American at Oklahoma State and Olympic alternate in the style known as Greco-Roman, also hopes nudges from the fighting community can benefit the sport that has helped produce so many of its stars.

In 1991, Couture won a Greco-Roman gold medal at the Pan-American Games.

Couture’s deep roots in wrestling — and skills he developed because of the sport that helped him succeed in mixed martial arts — caused the IOC decision to sting.

As the weeks and months melted off the calendar, though, it also caused Couture to think.

“Getting rid of some of the dead weight that was running FILA (wrestling’s governing body), that the IOC was dealing with, and some fresh faces and perspectives,” he said. “It led to rules changes. Now, I think we have the best set of rules we’ve had in a long time. It highlights aggressive wrestling, which is great for the sport.

“Third, it probably won a lot of fans over who hadn’t personally heard of wrestling, or weren’t avid followers. All the media and things that created attention, that probably broadened the fan base.”

Wrestling also made changes to increase leadership opportunities for women, and is considering expanding weight classes for women’s freestyle competitors.

“I got jumped in the eighth grade and a guy said I needed to learn how to wrestle,” he said. “I said, ‘No, they work too hard and touch each other in funny places.’ Next thing you know, I was on a wrestling mat.

“I hated it at first, but eventually I was hooked. It made me a high school national champion, an NCAA champion and taught me so many things that put me where I am.

“It’s hard to explain how much it’s given me. That’s why it means so much.”

ATHLETE, ACTOR DEFENDS WRESTLING’S OLYMPIC STATUS

The support of Randy Couture to those trying to regain wrestling’s Olympic status adds name recognition in ways beyond the mat, as well.

In addition to his role as a coach on the Spike TV reality show “Fight Master,” Couture has appeared in a range of movies — including “The Expendables 2” with Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Wills and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Couture attended wrestling’s U.S. Open in April in Las Vegas, as well as an international event featuring Russian, Canadian and American teams in May.

The sport, and its connection to the fight industry, is important, he said.

“I think for all intents and purposes, mixed martial arts has become the professional outlet for college wrestlers,” Couture said. “We didn’t have a professional outlet before. Now, guys can take the skills they developed, use the time on the mat and make a living out of it.

“Mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport on the planet right now, so it’s a chance for the guys to use their time and notoriety for the fight to keep the Olympics on the docket.”

Wrestling also allowed Couture one of his most memorable life experiences, when he competed in Havana, Cuba, as he captured Pan-American gold.

“You’re in a country that we’re not terribly friendly with in a political sense,” he said. “But as athletes and sportsmen, they were amazing. We were very well received.”

Did he return to the United States with a Cuban cigar or two?

After a laugh, Couture responded: “No comment.”

MORE ACTORS: BILLY BALDWIN TO HOLD AUCTION FOR WRESTLING

Actor and former college wrestler Billy Baldwin has organized an auction to benefit wrestling’s bid to regain its Olympic spot, starting with the 2020 Games.

Cormier said if wrestling fails to land the final spot for the 2020 and ’24 Games, it could impact a full generation of the sport.

“I think it could be extremely damaging,” he said. “Forget about guys like (recent NCAA stars) Kyle Dake and David Taylor. It’s even beyond them. You usually only have about two Olympic cycles, so 2024 would be kids in high school right now.”

The sport, however, has come together like never before, Cormier said.

“There’s no division,” he said. “Everyone’s pushing in the right direction.”

Bryce Miller can be reached at 515-284-8288 or brmiller@dmreg.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Bryce_A_Miller